Name
Bill Owen
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1914-03-14
Deathday
1999-07-12 (85 years old)
Place of Birth
Acton, London, England, UK
Biography
British born actor known for playing working class characters on film and TV. Born William Rowbotham, the son of a tram driver and laundress, he started playing drums in London nightclubs and toured music halls with his own cabaret act to pay for acting classes. He entertained at Butlin's holiday camps and performed in repertory, joining the Unity Theatre where he attained respect as a stage producer.
His career was interrupted by military service with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps where he was injured in an explosion during a battle training course. Returning to acting, he started making a name for himself in such films as Johnny in the Clouds (1945), When the Bough Breaks (1947), Maniacs on Wheels (1949), and The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952). He continued to perform in the theatre limelight and peaked in roles with Katharine Hepburn in "As You Like It" in 1950, and with "The Threepenny Opera" and "The Mikado", which made use of his musical talents. A writer at heart, he penned songs, musicals and plays over the years. Partnered with Mike Sammes, he wrote songs recorded by Pat Boone, Harry Secombe, Engelbert Humperdinck and Sir Cliff Richard, who had a hit with his 1980 song "Marianne". In the 60s he produced the stage musical, "The Matchgirl", and focused heavily on film slapstick with the 'Carry On' series.
TV stardom came late, in the role of Compo in the BBC's 1973 series "Last of the Summer Wine". When he died of pancreatic cancer in 1999, he asked to be buried in the Yorkshire village of Holmfirth, where the TV series was filmed.
Owen was awarded the MBE in 1976 for his steadfast work for the National Association of Boys Clubs and for his role as chairman of the Performing Arts Advising Panel.
Known For
6.4
In Haven Hospital, a certain men's ward is causing more havoc than the whole hospital alto...
5.763
A singer holes up at a sinister estate to write new songs for his act. His ex-wife is bru...
6.2
Young Robin Hood, in love with Maid Marian, enters an archery contest with his father at t...
6.036
London, England, during World War II. After living a tragic life experience, young Violett...
6.304
After a bunch of no-hopers approaches an employment agency, the anarchy mounts as they do ...
6.407
Sergeant Grimshawe wants to retire in the flush of success by winning the Star Squad prize...
6.226
A homely but vivacious young woman dodges the amorous attentions of her father's middle-ag...
7.3
After World War II the crew of a motor gunboat join together to buy their old vessel and g...
6.425
Speedee Taxis is a great success, which means its workaholic owner Charlie starts neglecti...
- 1958 Carry On Sergeant as Corporal Bill Copping
- 1959 Carry On Nurse as Percy "Perc" Hickson
- 1961 Carry On Regardless as Mike Weston
- 1952 The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men as Stutely
- 1964 The Secret of Blood Island as George Bludgin
- 1966 Georgy Girl as Ted
- 1958 Carve Her Name with Pride as NCO Instructor
- 1945 The Way to the Stars as Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
- 1951 Hotel Sahara as Private Binns
- 1948 Daybreak as Ron
- 1960 The Shakedown as David Spettigue
- 1963 Carry On Cabby as "Smiley" Sims
- 1954 The Rainbow Jacket as Sam
- 1948 My Brother's Keeper as Syd Evans
- 1947 Dancing with Crime as Dave Robinson
- 1949 Diamond City as Pinto
- 1953 The Square Ring as Happy Burns
- 1955 The Ship That Died of Shame as Birdie
- 1961 The Hellfire Club as Martin
- 1984 Laughterhouse as Amos
- 1948 Easy Money as Mr. Lee
- 1949 Once a Jolly Swagman as Lag Gibbon
- 2022 Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs as Self (archive)
- 1978 The Comeback as Mr. B
- 1975 In Celebration as Mr. Shaw
- 1961 On the Fiddle as Cpl. Gittens
- 1958 Davy as Eric
- 1947 When The Bough Breaks as Bill Collins
- 1953 A Day to Remember as Shorty Sharpe
- 1983 Getting Sam Home as Compo Simmonite
- 1970 Unfair! as Worker
- 1956 Not So Dusty
- 1949 Trottie True as Joe Jugg
- 1945 A City Reborn
- 1950 The Girl Who Couldn't Quite as Tim
- 1953 There Was a Young Lady as Joe
- 1968 Headline Hunters
- 1969 Mischief
- 1973 O Lucky Man! as Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
- 1948 Trouble in the Air
- 1941 Tank Patrol as Geordie
- 1948 The Weaker Sex as Soldier with Chicken
- 1964 Kiss Me, Kate as Gangster
- 1993 The Entertainer as Billy Rice
- 1946 School for Secrets as Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
- 1943 Breathing Space as (uncredited)
- 1966 The Fighting Prince of Donegal as Officer Powell
- 1964 The Last Word on Julie as Ray
- 1984 Royal Variety Performance 1984 as Compo
- 1982 The Funny Side of Christmas as Compo
- 1978 Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982 as Compo
- 1977 That's Carry On! as Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1998 What's a Carry On? as Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2005 The Funny Blokes of British Comedy as Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1986 Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the Bride as Compo
- 1987 Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day At Dream Acres as Compo
- 1973 Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? ( 4 episodes ) as George Chambers
- 1979 Tales of the Unexpected ( 1 episode ) as Meakins
- 1973 Last of the Summer Wine ( 1 episode ) as Compo (archive footage)
- 1956 The Buccaneers ( 1 episode ) as Clip West
- 1970 Catweazle ( 1 episode ) as Pickle
- 1972 Shirley's World ( 1 episode )
- 1975 Angels ( 1 episode )
- 1967 Man in a Suitcase ( 1 episode )
- 1991 Performance ( 1 episode ) as Billy Rice
- 1979 Blankety Blank ( 1 episode )
- 1968 Cilla ( 1 episode ) as Self
- 1951 Sherlock Holmes ( 6 episodes ) as Inspector Lestrade
- 1991 Noel's House Party ( 1 episode ) as Compo
- 1973 Last of the Summer Wine ( 173 episodes ) as Compo
- 1963 Taxi! ( 13 episodes ) as Fred Cuddel
- 1963 Taxi! ( 26 episodes ) as Fred Cuddell
- 1971 Coppers End ( 13 episodes ) as Sgt. Sam Short
- 1977 The Val Doonican Music Show ( 1 episode ) as Self
- 1996 Smillie's People ( 1 episode ) as Self
- 1955 This Is Your Life ( 1 episode ) as Self
- 1982 The Kids International Show ( 1 episode ) as Compo
- 1961 Drama 61-67 ( 1 episode ) as Bailey
- 1956 Armchair Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Ray
- 1967 ITV Playhouse ( 1 episode ) as Mr Milner
- 1969 ITV Saturday Night Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Mr. Hanley
- 1967 Half Hour Story ( 1 episode ) as R.J.Smellies
- 1973 Away from It All ( 1 episode ) as Robert
- 1968 Treasure Island ( 9 episodes ) as Billy Bones
- 1965 Thirty-Minute Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Henry Jay
- 1972 Late Night Theatre ( 1 episode ) as William
